N00024_62603_REDACTED_Redacted_.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND

1333 ISAAC HULL AVE SE

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD DC 20376-0001

IN REPLY REFER TO

J&A Number: 62,603 Code: 0262

N00024-22-NR-95239

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

Naval Sea Systems Command, Undersea and Unmanned Systems Contracts Division, SEA 026.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

Award of a sole source contract to Sonalysts, Inc. for operational analysis and software development of the Submarine Operational Vulnerability Analysis Tool (SOVAT) in support of the SSN/SSGN Survivability Program (SUB073S/S3P).

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The proposed contract is for operational analysis of SSN & SSGN vulnerabilities which includes efforts for operational vignette development and analysis, integration of existing vulnerability models, and technical analysis of at-sea testing events to include comparison to Virtual Security Exercises (VSECEX) and continued development of SOVAT.

These services are required in support of SUB073S/S3P chartered mission to provide the Director, Undersea Warfare Division (OPNAV N97) with qualitative and quantitative analysis of potential SSN and SSGN submarine vulnerabilities.

The contract contains a base year and two option years for a total three year period of performance.

The estimated value of this acquisition is $9M. The Government estimate is based upon the current contract, N00024-19-C-6209, which was awarded in September 2019 through a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) N00024-16-R-6248.

The Government's minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel. The Government estimate is based on the actual labor rate of the current contract and then escalated for the out-years.

Research Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds will be used.

Estimated Dollar Value

Appropriation FY23 FY25 Total

RDT&E $9M

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open

Competition

10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302- 1(a)(2)(iii), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii), full and open competition need not be provided for when services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source.

Sonalysts is the original source of SOVAT and the only contractor with the required highly specialized knowledge and expertise to continue that development. As discussed below, the Government would incur unacceptable delays to fulfill the program requirements if a source other than Sonalysts is selected to develop SOVAT and conduct these operational analyses models.

The existing contract (N00024-19-C-6209) was awarded under full and open competition as a submission to the previous SUB073S/S3P BAA N00024-16-R-6248. Sonalysts was the only contractor that provided a technically acceptable white paper to the Government.

Sonalysts developed, at their own expense, a proprietary SIM-II game engine which serves as the foundation for SOVAT system. The Government does not possess Government Purpose Rights to the SIM-II game engine. Therefore, competing this effort would require another source to conduct extensive research and development in order to design their own SOVAT system, which is estimated to take approximately 36 months.

Moreover, this development would take place after the estimated duration of 18-24 month from solicitation development to award, per existing procurement acquisition lead times (PALT) for competitions.

Based on the above, Sonalysts, as the original source, is the only contractor with the requisite knowledge and expertise to provide the highly specialized support to meet the Navy's SOVAT requirements. Utilizing Sonalysts expertise will allow SUB073S/S3P to conduct critical analysis of emergent technical and operational vulnerabilities, which reduces risk to the U.S. Submarine Force within the needed timeframe and without unacceptable delays fulfilling the program requirements.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many

Offerors as Practicable

The original contract was awarded under competitive procedures via BAA N00024-19-C-6209. No market research was conducted for this instant procurement as it is not practicable for the reasons discussed in paragraph 5 above, for any company other than Sonalysts to provide the required support in the requisite timeframe.

As such, no request for information or sources sought notice was issued. A waiver in accordance with DFARS PGI 206.302-1 was approved on 22 June 2022 and the proposed requirement was synopsized on the SAM.gov website on 06 July 2022 in accordance with FAR 5.2. No responses were received.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for the services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer will use cost and price analysis to determine a fair and reasonable cost. Similar services have been provided by this contractor on the current contract and cost or pricing data from the current contract will be used to assist the Contracting Officer in determining a fair and reasonable price.

Assistance from the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and cognizant NAVSEA Technical Experts may be utilized to analyze, evaluate and assist in negotiations based upon detailed cost and pricing data which will be certified by the contractor at the conclusion of negotiations.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

SUB073/S3P will continue to promote competition in the future by soliciting new Research & Development proposals and whitepapers for the SSN/SSGN Survivability Program through the utilization of the current BAA. The current BAA N00024- 20-R-2115 expires on 30 April 2023. At the conclusion of this BAA in 2023, a follow on BAA is planned.